Abstract: An apparatus for singulating unit dose blisters from a blister card including at least two perforations separating unit dose blisters positioned adjacent to each other and extending along a longitudinal length of the blister card is provided. The apparatus may include a perforation determiner and a blister card cutter. The perforation determiner may be configured to generate information indicative of a distance between a first perforation location and a second perforation location of the blister card with respect to perforations extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the blister card and separating unit dose blisters to be singulated.

Abstract: A stage positioning system and method for aligning optical components according to a figure of merit is disclosed. The system includes a stage assembly having six axes of freedom wherein the pivot point of the stage assembly motion is user definable and preferably outside the envelope formed by the stage assembly. The stage assembly includes three sub-assemblies. A base sub-assembly provides x and z axes motion, a yaw stage provides yaw about the y axis, and a three-axis stage provides y motion as well as pitch and roll about the x and z axes, respectively.

Abstract: A device for receiving first and second analog signals consisting of two sinusoidal signals shifted in phase from an encoder and outputting digital pulses corresponding to the approximate number of equal steps the system of which the encoder is a part has advanced or retreated comprising flash memory storing a table relating total value counts to the precise value as previously determined by calibration and that adds or subtracts counts to or from a difference register so that the count in the difference register corresponds to the calibrated value moved by the system.

Abstract: A device for receiving first and second analog signals consisting of two sinusoidal signals shifted in phase from an encoder and outputting digital pulses corresponding to the approximate number of equal steps the system of which the encoder is a part has advanced or retreated comprising flash memory storing a table relating total value counts to the precise value as previously determined by calibration and that adds or subtracts counts to or from a difference register so that the count in the difference register corresponds to the calibrated value moved by the system

Abstract: A device for receiving first and second analog signals consisting of two sinusoidal signals shifted in phase from an encoder and outputting digital pulses corresponding to the approximate number of equal steps the system of which the encoder is a part has advanced or retreated comprising flash memory storing a table relating total value counts to the precise value as previously determined by calibration and that adds or subtracts counts to or from a difference register so that the count in the difference register corresponds to the calibrated value moved by the system.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improved solar water purification system and process wherein the evaporating, condensing and distillate collecting chambers are located underground to assist in the evaporation and condensation process. The system includes three computer controlled preheaters which are constantly monitored to determine the temperature of the load therein. The cycling and recycling of the load relative to the load tank and the three preheaters is controlled by the computer for optimum system efficiency. One of the three preheaters is located underground, while a second preheater is located externally as a solar preheater and the third preheater is an outside gas, oil or waste heat fired preheater. In addition to producing pure water through the evaporation process, there is disclosed a system and process whereby various contaminants may be captured for further processing, storage and exploitation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved solar water purification apparatus. More specifically, it relates to a solar water purification apparatus that includes a first and second preheater, an evaporation load tank, condenser, and pure distillate collecting tank. The condensing surface is a domed upper structure which includes a corrugated inner surface to increase the condensing surface. The outersurface of the domed upper structure is likewise corrugated and completely enclosed by a first preheater chamber the permit efficient cooling of the domed upper structure and encourage rapid condensation, thus transferring heat from the interior corrugations to the exterior corrugations of the first preheater chamber, further adding to the overall thermal efficiency.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a solar-operated apparatus to purify and/or desalinate water. Several embodiments are disclosed, each of which substantially derives its source of heat from solar energy. The apparatus includes a unique design of the evaporating collector dome which is provided with a smooth interior surface to permit collection of increased amounts of distillate. The apparatus exterior is provided with a black surface to serve as a black body and so absorb increased amounts of the sun's energy. Additionally, that same exterior is coated with a film of infra-red absorbing material (STET) to further increase solar-energy absorption. To further improve the system's efficiency, various external tubing designs are utilized to preheat the load prior to its entry into the evaporating chamber. The distillate-collecting vessel is a downwardly-extending dome. This increases the volume while at the same time reducing re-evaporation by minimizing the exposed surface area.